Museum · Chicago
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry: free entry days, tickets & hours
Huge hands-on science museum in Jackson Park with a captured WWII U-boat, a replica coal mine and the Giant Dome Theater.
Independent guide, not the official Griffin MSI website. Official links are under Sources.
Griffin MSI is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: general admission for U.S. active-duty military and veterans; general admission for Illinois pre-K-12 teachers, Chicago police and firefighters, and Illinois POWs; Museums for All: free general admission with an EBT or WIC card (any state).
- Otherwise: adult general admission (ages 12+) — $25.95.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- The museum was renamed Griffin Museum of Science and Industry; the old msichicago.org address redirects to griffinmsi.org.
- All 2026 Illinois Free Days are over; 2027 dates had not been announced on 23 Oct 2026.
- Free-admission offers cover general admission only: parking, the dome theater and timed tours are extra.
- Check the hours page before going: many November-December days run to 5:30pm instead of 4pm.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forFree general admission for U.S. active-duty military and veterans | military members and families | One free general admission per person with military ID, plus one free Anne Frank The Exhibition ticket; can request online or show ID at the counter. | No |
| Free forFree general admission for Illinois pre-K-12 teachers, Chicago police and firefighters, and Illinois POWs | illinois teachers first responders | — | No |
| Free forMuseums for All: free general admission with an EBT or WIC card (any state) | EBT cardholders (Museums for All) | Show EBT or WIC card plus photo ID; covers up to two adults and six children under 18. Includes Anne Frank The Exhibition. | No |
Official prices
Griffin MSI ticket prices
| Adult general admission (ages 12+) — Children 3-11 $14.95. City of Chicago residents get $9 off adult and $5 off child general admission. Giant Dome Theater, tours and special exhibitions cost extra. | $25.95 |
| U-505 On-Board Tour (adult, on top of general admission) — Step aboard the only German U-boat captured in WWII. | $18 |
| Coal Mine tour (adult, on top of general admission) — The museum's original 1933 exhibit. | $12 |
| Anne Frank The Exhibition (adult; Flex Pass +$10) — Full-scale recreation of the Annex with 130+ original objects. | $19 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (adult general admission (ages 12+)). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Griffin MSI
GetYourGuideChicago: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry Ticket★★★★★ 4.6 · 348 reviewsfrom $25.95
All tickets and tours on GetYourGuide
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 09:30–16:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 09:30–16:00 |
| Wed | 09:30–16:00 |
| Thu | 09:30–16:00 |
| Fri | 09:30–16:00 |
| Sat | 09:30–16:00 |
| Sun | 09:30–16:00 |
Open daily 9:30am-4pm, with frequent extended days to 5:30pm (most of November and December 2026). Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas; early close at 4pm on 24 and 31 December.
5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
FAQ
Griffin MSI: common questions
Is Griffin MSI free?
Griffin MSI has no free entry for everyone. Also free: general admission for U.S. active-duty military and veterans; general admission for Illinois pre-K-12 teachers, Chicago police and firefighters, and Illinois POWs; Museums for All: free general admission with an EBT or WIC card (any state). Otherwise the official ticket costs $25.95.
Who gets free entry to Griffin MSI?
Military members and families — one free general admission per person with military ID, plus one free Anne Frank The Exhibition ticket; can request online or show ID at the counter.. Illinois teachers first responders. EBT cardholders (Museums for All) — show EBT or WIC card plus photo ID; covers up to two adults and six children under 18. Includes Anne Frank The Exhibition..
How much is a ticket to Griffin MSI?
Adult general admission (ages 12+) costs $25.95 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Griffin MSI
No reviews yet. Been here? Tell others how it went — especially on a free day.
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Sources
Where this comes from
- griffinmsi.org/pricing · checked Friday, 23 October 2026
- griffinmsi.org/hours
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.